Hay knife



Patented Jan. 6, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE HAY KNIFE Frederick Kunz, Greeley, Colo.

Application May 28, 1940, Serial No. 337,729

2 Claims.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in hay knives and has for its primary object to provide a device of this character of all metal construction, including a handle portion of T-form in `cross section to the lower end of which is secured a flat, double-pointed blade of thin, lightweight metal, the other end of the handle being provided with a hand grip member, the invention further including the provision of a foldable stirrup pivotally carried by the handle adjacent the blade to facilitate the penetration of the knife into the stack of hay and to also enable the stirrup to be folded against the handle when not in use.

A further object of the invention is to provide a tool of this character of simple and practical construction, which is strong and durable, relatively inexpensive to manufacture and otherwise well adapted for the purposes for which the same is intended.

Other objects and advantages reside in the details of construction as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which- Figure 1 is a rear elevational view,

Figure 2 is a side elevational view, and

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the stirrup.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, the numeral 5 designates the handle portion of the knife which is of T-shape in cross section, the fiat surface of the handle being secured flatwise against the rear face of a blade 6 and secured thereto4 by means of rivets or the like 1. The

blade 6 is of relatively broad flat form and is V-notch I0 defining a forked extremity II on the lower end of the blade. The rear surface of the blade throughout its area of the notched end is lbeveled as shown at I2 to provide a sharpened the rear surface thereof and adjacent its lower end is provided with a pin I8 on which is pivotally mountedl a stirrup I9, the stirrup being formed of a strip of metal bent upon itself into substantially U-shaped form in cross section, the open edge of the stirrup extending upwardly and adapted for receiving the rib I1 when the stirrup is folded longitudinally against the handle.

The sides of the stirrup, at the inner end thereof, is provided with extensions 20 positioned against opposite sides of the rib I'I and the bight portion of the stirrup, at the inner end thereof, forms a stop 2| adapted to engage the rib to support the stirrup in a horizontal position.

When the device is in use and the stirrup I9 is in its open position, as shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawing, the foot of the user may be placed on the stirrup to facilitate the penetration of the blade 9 into the stack of hay for separating portions therefrom.

It is believed the details of construction, advantages and manner of use of the device will be readily yunderstood from the foregoing without further detailed explanation.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is: y

1. A hay knife comprising a handle having a flat front surface and a central longitudinal rib projecting rearwardly from said handle, a flat blade secured atwise against the front surface of the handle at its lower end, a hand grip at the upper end of the handle and a stirrup of channel form in cross section pivoted at one end to said rib, the stirrup being adapted for folding longitudinally against the handle and receiving the rib in said channel whenthe stirrup is in its folded position.

2. A hay knife comprising a handle having a fiat front surface and a central longitudinal rib projecting rearwardly from said handle, a flat blade secured atwise against the front surface of the handle at its lower end, and a stirrup of channel form in cross section pivoted at one end to the rib with the open edge of the channel disposed upper most and adapted for swinging upwardly into a position longitudinally of the handle with said rib entered into the channel of the stirrup, the base of said channel terminating short of the pivoted end of thev stirrup and forming a stop adapted to abut the rib for supporting the stirrup in a horizontal position.

FREDERICKy KUNZ. 

